Aswa East Police Commander praises officers’ professionalism during elections

4 March 2026, 14:46

By Ekel Bonny Daniel

The Regional Police Commander for Aswa East, Ben Okae Geoffrey, has commended police officers for maintaining professionalism and discipline during the recent election period.

Okae made the remarks on Tuesday 3^rd March 2026 while addressing police personnel at Pader Central Police Station, where 23 motorcycles were officially distributed to support police operations under the government’s sub-county policing model.

He said the motorcycles will help improve police mobility and response to crime across the region.

Okai also praised officers for the role they played during the elections, noting that from the campaign period up to the voting day, police personnel conducted their duties professionally and helped ensure a peaceful electoral process. The district has 23 sub-counties and town councils.

“In our African culture, when people do something good, it is important to appreciate them,” Okai said, commending the leadership of the District Police Commander in Pader and all officers involved in election security.

He added that journalists covering the elections did not report major cases of misconduct by police officers, which he said reflected discipline within the force.

According to the RPC, the distribution of motorcycles is part of the ongoing rollout of the sub-county policing model, a national initiative aimed at bringing police services closer to communities.

Although the program has not yet been officially launched in the Aswa East region by police headquarters in Kampala, Okai said implementation has already begun using the available manpower.

In Pader District, the model is already operational in areas such as Pajule and Lapul police stations.

The district has 23 sub-counties, and police plan to gradually extend the program until each sub-county has a functional police presence.

He explained that each sub-county police station is expected to have at least three motorcycles to improve patrol and crime response.

Okai emphasized that the motorcycles are government property meant strictly for public service, particularly crime prevention and response.

He called on community members to help monitor the use of the motorcycles and report any misuse to the Officer in Charge or the District Police Commander.

The RPC also acknowledged that difficult terrain and infrastructure challenges sometimes affect police access to certain areas, citing Puranga Sub-County as one of the locations where reaching the headquarters can be challenging.

He called for cooperation between local government, central government, and other stakeholders to address such issues.

Okai assured the public that the government has planned for operational needs under the sub-county policing model, including fuel for motorcycles and police vehicles.

He said fuel will be provided monthly, although communities are also encouraged to support policing efforts where possible.

Meanwhile, the LCIII Chairperson of Pajule Town Council, Okello Titto Brilliant, welcomed the distribution of motorcycles and the broader improvements in policing.

Speaking in an interview after the exercise, he said the situation in Pajule has improved since the introduction of the sub-county policing model in 2024.

According to Okello, the area previously had no patrol vehicles or motorcycles to support police work.

However, after local leaders raised concerns, a patrol vehicle was later deployed to Pajule Police Station, improving patrols and response to crime in Aruu North.

He also noted that the number of police personnel has increased and new units, including the traffic department, have been introduced.

“These developments have strengthened security in our community,” he said.

Despite the progress, the Pajule Town Council leader urged the government to continue supporting the police with more equipment and personnel, noting that crime remains a concern in some areas.